Credit cards, cash, budget items advice sought
Apr 19th, 2011, 06:48 AM
#1
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Credit cards, cash, budget items advice sought
Traveling to Ireland for 2 weeks late May. Trying to figure out several things, and any advice from those who have been before, or locals, would be appreciated!
1) Can we use our credit card for a lot of things? I know that we should contact our credit card company to let them know we will be traveling. I think i read somewhere that gas stations do not take US credit cards?
2) We are staying at bed and breakfasts - have hotel booked for first and last nights, rental car paid for etc. Understand that cost of fuel is high. Planning on seeing many church sites, and know the admissions for these, and some are free ( buren, etc). Beyond that, how much do you think our daily budget might be? Not planning on any fancy meals. Doing a "typical" tour from Dublin, down to the south, and the up the other coast as far as arran islands.
thanks for the advice in advance!
1) Can we use our credit card for a lot of things? I know that we should contact our credit card company to let them know we will be traveling. I think i read somewhere that gas stations do not take US credit cards?
2) We are staying at bed and breakfasts - have hotel booked for first and last nights, rental car paid for etc. Understand that cost of fuel is high. Planning on seeing many church sites, and know the admissions for these, and some are free ( buren, etc). Beyond that, how much do you think our daily budget might be? Not planning on any fancy meals. Doing a "typical" tour from Dublin, down to the south, and the up the other coast as far as arran islands.
thanks for the advice in advance!
Apr 19th, 2011, 07:21 AM
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To clarify, Europe has moved to the chip and pin CC, which means that you can pay for items and not need to sign, just enter a pin.
So, at a gas station, it takes American credit cards, but you need to physically present it to someone.
For credit cards transactions, make sure you do not accept or get billed in US$, often called dynamic currency conversion (DCC). They will offer you a worse exchange rate.
Gas wise, because the distances are so small, you won't be using a lot while there.
So, at a gas station, it takes American credit cards, but you need to physically present it to someone.
For credit cards transactions, make sure you do not accept or get billed in US$, often called dynamic currency conversion (DCC). They will offer you a worse exchange rate.
Gas wise, because the distances are so small, you won't be using a lot while there.
Apr 20th, 2011, 10:57 AM
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Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted Amex or Diners might cause problems. to be safe work on €30 per person per day food. light lunch, evening meal (pub grub)and 15-20cent/mile fuel depending on car and price per ltr.
Apr 20th, 2011, 11:13 AM
#4
Just a quick comment:
"<i>Planning on seeing many church sites, and know the admissions for these, and some are free</i>"
I certainly hope you plan on leaving at least a small donation at the churches that are free.
"<i>Planning on seeing many church sites, and know the admissions for these, and some are free</i>"
I certainly hope you plan on leaving at least a small donation at the churches that are free.
Sep 8th, 2011, 03:59 AM
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As stated, be sure to have your credit card VAT Tax refunded in Euros NOT dollars we didn't do that on our first visit in 2009 and noticed a significant differences when were returned in 2010. A lot of B&B's want to be paid in cash so do be sure to have that on hand before you check out. A way to save on expenses is to shop at a grocery store for food item for lunch and snacks. You can expect to pay 20-30 Euros per person for a decent dinner, and I am not talking an expensive upscale restaurant. Have a great time and I know you will fall in love with Ireland just like we did.
Sep 8th, 2011, 05:08 AM
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1. Use your credit cards for all purchases no matter how large or small. Less cash to worry about. Make sure you have a card that has not been issued by a bank with the near criminal 3% fee for foreign transactions such large criminal banks like Bank of America, itiban k, Chase (some of the cards issued by these banks do not charge the near criminal foreign transaction fee but most of those require annual fees. Get a credit card, if you're from the USA, from Capital One which doesn't rip people off with that near criminal fee.
2. Chip and pin shouldn't affect you too much in Ireland as they are used to dealing with America's archaic credit cards. You might not be able to use some self service places. At least this is true for the time being.
3. Ireland is home of the dynamic currency conversion scam. In this scam, you will be asked if you wish to be billed in euro or US dollars. Visa/mc regulations require you be given the choice. As Nancy Reagan once said, just say no to this. However, there are some unscrupulous mercvhants who claim they have no control and that their terminals automatically make the transaction which is a lie. I had such an unfortunate experience at a Burger King in Dublin. After a verbal dispute with the clerk and manager, I circled the euro amount on the sales slip and wrote local option not offered. When I got home and was billed, I instituted chargeback procedures. Unfortunately, rather than charging bnack the charge to teach those thieves a lesson, my credit card company simply refunded the difference which was 7.5% of the charge, in this case 75¢ on a $10 charge. Damn, I really wanted to teach those thieves a lesson.
2. Chip and pin shouldn't affect you too much in Ireland as they are used to dealing with America's archaic credit cards. You might not be able to use some self service places. At least this is true for the time being.
3. Ireland is home of the dynamic currency conversion scam. In this scam, you will be asked if you wish to be billed in euro or US dollars. Visa/mc regulations require you be given the choice. As Nancy Reagan once said, just say no to this. However, there are some unscrupulous mercvhants who claim they have no control and that their terminals automatically make the transaction which is a lie. I had such an unfortunate experience at a Burger King in Dublin. After a verbal dispute with the clerk and manager, I circled the euro amount on the sales slip and wrote local option not offered. When I got home and was billed, I instituted chargeback procedures. Unfortunately, rather than charging bnack the charge to teach those thieves a lesson, my credit card company simply refunded the difference which was 7.5% of the charge, in this case 75¢ on a $10 charge. Damn, I really wanted to teach those thieves a lesson.
